The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-08-17
Cotton Mills at the South.

The current number of Brddstreet's has
some interesting statistics relative TO South
crn cotton mills. 1t has complete data from
141 establishments, and it compares these
establishments with the full number re-
ported-in the census of 1850. The compari-
son shows all increase in the capital invested
in cotton manufacturing concerns within
the last seven years of l54 per cent. i'll the
number of spindles 37.2 per cent. in the
number of looms 81 per cent; in the
number of employees 21 & per cent; in the
amount of annual wages earned 1872 per
cent in tue amount of cotton used 400,
and in the number of yards of cloth made
46.6 per cent
The amount of capital reported to be in
vested in cotton manufacturing in the
Southern States in the census of 1880 was
SIS, POS, S97. There is invested in the 14l
mills from which ByddStreet's has returns
S2l074, 2S4. The number of operatives in
1880 was II, $50; in the 14l mills there are
20,9S4. The amount of wages paid
in 1880 was 81, ,GGG; in the 141 mills
there is now annually paid s3,965,969. In
1850 the number of bales of cotton
used was 1SS, 1874; at the present time in the
14l mills the number is 26S, $50. The number
of yards of cloth made in 1880 was 1872, 761,-
29S; the number now made in the al mills
is 223, 045,3S4.
About all the cotton mills are in pros
porous condition and are making satisfactory
dividends. From 1881 to 1885, however, few
of them made any money The business of
all of them was greatly depressed In 1856
there was IA marked improvement, which
has continued until the present time, with
the exception, perhaps, of some of those en-
gagged in the manufacture of yarns and
warpS. 1t is claimed that there is over
production in this branch of cotton manu-
featuring
Some Of the manufacturers are afraid
that the American market, to which they
are limited by the high protective tariff,
will not be able in the near future to absorb
all the cotton goods offered it. A president
Of North Carolina corporation, engaged in
the manufacture of plaids, speaking of pos
sible overproduction, says that the annual
production may glut the American market
all we have or are likely to have so long
as the throttling policy prevails in this
country. This policy is in conflict
with the natural laws of trade,
and, as | think, unwise and dishonest ~
There is no doubt that the high protective,
or, as the North Carolina manufactures
calls it, throttling, policy is unwise, and
that it is so even those who now strongly
advocate it will very soon have to admit
The South is certain to become a great
manufacturing section, and it must have an
outlet for the part of its products which
cannot be absorbed by the home market.
That outlet can only be obtained by re-
ducing the tariff.
BrddStreets quotes Massachusetts, paper
which says that the New England manufac-
turers are beginning to feel the competition
of the South, which has the advantage of
being near the raw material. The admis-
sion is made that Southern enterprise will
before very long monopolize the manufac-
ture of common goods, and that the North
ern manufacturers will have to turn their
attention to the manufacture of fine goods
such as are now imported in such vast
quantities The outlook for manufacturing
in the South is certainly very promising
one